Methanex is expecting to idle its Chile operations in March 2013 due to anticipated insufficient natural gas supply, the Canada-based methanol company said on Thursday. 

Methanex is currently operating one plant in Chile at low operating rates. In 2013, planned output from this plant represents less than 5% of the company's total production.

"Due to continued natural gas supply challenges, we do not expect to have sufficient feedstock to keep our Chile plant operating through the southern hemisphere winter," said John Floren, CEO of Methanex. 

"Our current expectation is that resumption of our plant operation would be possible later in the year."